Production or manufacture of disks, or blanks for buttons or the like



Jan. 8, 1929. 1,698,376

R. STANFORTH PRODUCTION OR MANUFACTURE OF DISKS, OR BLANKS FOR BUTTONS, OR THE LIKE Original Filed A ri; 9, 1923 ilm/ *1 I,

I INKENTOR.

Z M d 'iazzfm-fik N a r 4a:- ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 8,1929.

, UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE. 1

RICHARD STANFORTI I, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSI G NO R TO ART IN'BUTTONS, INQ, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATIONOF NEW YORK;

PRODUCTION on MANUFACTURE on DISKS, on BLANKS FOB, BUTTONS OR THE LIKE.

Application filed A ri af 1923, Serial No. 631,045. Renewe d November 21, 1923.

The present invention relates to the production or manufacture of disks, or blanks for buttons, or the like, from irregularly shaped pieces of material, and an object of' the invention is; to provide a method. by

which the necessity for accurate classifica-' tion of the irregularly shaped material is eliminated. tion is to secure from suitable irregularly shaped material the desirable maximum yield in disks, or blanks for buttons, or the like. Still another object of the invention is to convert the irregularly shaped material. into blanks having regular and substantially cylindrical characteristics and cut imeters and article surfaces on opposite sides thereof, and thereafter to recut those blanks which have incomplete perimeters or incomplete article surfaces to provide complete blanks of smaller diameter or thickness, or both, thus eliminating defectives. Still another object of the invention is to recut the incompleteblanks in accordance with predetermined graduated scales covering a series of steps either or both of decreasing thickness and of proportioned finished surface curvatures, in order to make such recutting economically possible. Another and still further object of the invention is to recut the incomplete plural blanks in accordance with the hereinbefore men tioned predetermined graduated scales in such a manner that the disks, or blanks-for buttons, or the like, are obtained from the most desirable portions of the irregularly shaped material. Another and still fur ther object of the invention is to provide a method through which the objects hereinbefore mentioned may be accomplished with machinery and other equipment now used in factories or plants for making'buttons.

To these and other ends, the invention consists of certain steps, and oon'ibinations of steps, in a method of producing disks, or blanks for buttons, or the like, from irregularly shaped material, all of which will be hereinafter described and the novel features pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: l Fig. 1 shows perspective views of three typical irregularly shaped nut pieces;

' Fig. 2 shows anut piece in cross section illustrating in dotted lines the manner in which a single blank of substantially maxi mum diameter may be formed therefrom;

Another object of the inven- Fig. 3 shows'anut piece in cross section, lllustrating in dotted lines the'manneuinwhich a plural blank of substantially maximum thicknessm'ay be formed therefrom;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view. of a single blank with its perimeter incomplete;

Fig. 5 illustrates side views of three plural blanks incomplete in one'or more of their article forming portions;

Fig. Gillustrate's a manner in which the incomplete single blank shown in Fig. 4 may be recut to form a complete blank of smaller size;

Fig. 7 illustrates an optionalmanner of recutting. incomplete single blanks to a smaller size; 3 .r

Fig. 8 illustrates amannerof recutting the incomplete plural blanks shown in Fig.

'5 to provide complete plural blanks of a smallerfsize; I e

- Fig. 9 illustratesanother manner ofrecuttingthe incomplete plural blanks shown in 5. to provide-complete plural blanks 0f a smallersize;

Fig. 10 shows an enlarged single blank,

illustrating diagrammatically thereon the predeterminedgraduated scale followed inthe manner of recutting incomplete blanks illustrated in. Fig. 6;

Fig. 11 'shows-an'enlarged single'blank illustrating diagrammatically thereon the predetermined graduated scale followed in the manner of recutting incomplete blanks illustrated in Fig. 7

Fig. 12 shows an enlarged plural blank illustrating diagrammatically thereon the predetermined graduated scale followed in the manner of recutting incomplete plural blanks illustrated in Fig. 8; and

Fig. 13. shows an enlarged plural blank illustrating. diagrammatically thereon the predetermined graduated scalefollowed in the manner of recutting incomplete plural ness of the in the cutting o the nutys'o that, in" this respect, the nut pieces run fairly uniform in 'eaclnclass or kind 101E sawing;.and;:nin meet cases, area-considerably thicken -than thee file buttons produced therefroiin:

e classification of these irregularly shaped nut pieces atbest has been inaccurate owing to the great Variety of" shapes existing therein and this has required in most cases, tliat the hutt'onmade from each, class he'cut to aidiameter less than the diameter ofthe smallest piece in the class in orderflto insure, as far as possibleythe production of full and completely; forined" buttons. 7 As a consequence nany of the irregularly shaped pieces from which, larger andipluralblanks could be obtainedihave been thus cut in such a manner as to cause a great, deal of waste,

and, furthermore, the comparatively few plural blanks which have been, obtained by this old method have eontaineclia large pro portion of defectives which hasrepresented -a snbsta'n'tial loss: I a 1 p Accoring to this invennon,th rregularly shaped pieces, such as 1, 2 andS, whether obtained from nuts, or other sources, 7 are preferably submitted to a r gh" mech ical classification for size, and the pieces of the different classes arethencut preferably on machines now ingcommon uselinbutton V assesse at ain as s, smear at but-i Irons, or the like, such as fillfuStratedQin incomplete forms at, .4, 5 and 6 in- Fig, 5,

which arethe desirable maximum in size for each, class of "the irregularlyshaped pieces.

In cutting these disks, '0; blanks, itfis i-eferred to give them regular and cylindrical characteristics andvto cut 'on opposite sides thereoffarticlesu'rfaices7 and perimeters 8,

the, ,di'stanee between such 'articlejsurfaces (preferablybeing sentient to yield two or more single buttons, snch blanks are divided transversely. When using irregu any shaped material? scene the nut pieces illustrated in the dtawingatne diameter of the blanks obtainable therefrom is de pendent upon the thickness of such blank and, vice yersaesoj 't ha'tfif buttons, or other 3171710138 of maximum d'i'ametenare deslred,

these may be Obtainedby cutting each ir} regularly shaped piecelto yield a singledisk,

or blank, of minimum thickness, as shown at 9m Fig; 2, whereas, if the largestjnu nber ness are desirea these maybe ohta inedfby cutt'i ng theblanks in the first instance to the maximumthieknessfoithe irregularly shaped pieces, as shown at 1Q inj Fig. 3,

with the. diameters of theblan'ks decreased correspondingly. The expression desirable maximum. as used in connection with yield in disks, or blanksfor buttons', or the like,

7 from the irregantarlyjshaped pieces means yield of maximum Value which is governed ;piee'es isa -usual lly cbntrol lled hytradeor marketcendlitipns andmay be either of the extremes mentioned-liereinbefo're or' any demand in between these extreniesz, i

(owing a: the fact that, ini this new method, the irregularly shaped pieces are cut topreduce blanks of the desirable maximum size obtainable therefrom, suchblanks 7 a1e 1iot'al'ways full and complete in all portions thereof in thefirstinstance, as will be apparent by reference to Figs. 4' and 1- 5.

Thereforafohowmg the first cuttingoperation, theblanks are classified to separate ,those' with incomplete perimeters 8 and incomplete article surfaces 7 fromthe blanks which are complete in both of these particu lars andjthose of the latter-blanks]which conmin a plurality ofsin le disks, or blanks, are such single disks, or a divided to ebtalin blanks. 1

a The blanks with incomplete perimetersicr incomplete article surfaces are frecut, prefprovide complete blanks of? smaller diameter 1 or thickness, or both.

lust'ratedin Fig. 1 0,"mayj1be utiilihed for One scale which may he employed a idlil-i ,pr'od'ucing either single fblanl'rs', such as i shown atll; in Fig, 6, or plural blanks, such producing the single blanks, such as shown .at 11 in Fig. 6,; each blank, "after-every cutting operation, isof f uniform diameter from one face to the other andthe reenter plane of a the, finished blank is not shifted with refer; i p 7 nee to the center flane. m of the original incompletelblank. n Fig. 12,, is shown a scale for cutting plural incomplete blanks,- such asill tratedfi Fig- I3. According'tq tl'iisijsca'le the finished or complete: plural blank] will, in many instances, have two aitlcle f rmmg portions of different diam ,eters, asilli-1strated at-16 "and" 17in F 8,

due. to the fact that in remitting the i'neoim pleterplural blanli only that portion which i is incomplete is subjected tot'he recut'ting 0 erationfbu't in this case alsothe center p ane m of the blank is "not shifted in the 'final recut blank.

Another scale which prodi'lcihg single blanks is illustrated in Fig;

may befemploy'cdi for 11,1this being preferred when it is desired to obtain fi'oni an, incomplete blank 15, a

complete blanki18 located inrthe ime proximity to a superior'siide of the incomplete blank Accordin w to this scale, the

incomplete blank 15 is reduced in diameter a and thickness, butgthe greater amount of niatcrial removed from that side of incomplete blank oppositethe seperiee s e the latter being cut as sufficiently to change the curvature to correspond to the reduced diameter, thus causing the shifting of the center plane y of the blank. A modified form of this same scale as illustrated in Fig. I

that the different single blanks ctmtained in a plural blank Will in many instances be of different diameters, due to the fact that incomplete plural blanks Will only be cut in the article forming portion which is incomplete. As a consequence of this the center plane g of the original incomplete blank is shifted as the differentportions are reduced in diameteror diameter and thickness, for, it will be noted, that according to the scale used in Fig. 13 the superior portion 22 is reduced in diameter only, Whereas the portion 23 away from the superior portion is reduced both in diameter andthickness.

The distances between the diiferent divisions of the scales are variable With trade conditions. The curvature. and thickness measurement bears, in this case, a definite relation to the diameter measurement to which it is preferred to adhere particularly in the production of plural blanks, as it has been found by actual practice that the most economical results are thus to be secured. It will thus be seen that the irregularly shaped pieces are converted into blanks having substantially regular and cylindrical characteristics, each blank still retaining for a predetermined thickness the maximum cylindrical diameter of the or1g1nal-1rregu After the first recutt-ing operation, the blanks are again classified to separate those which are complete from those incomplete and the latter are recut a second time to a smaller size in accordance With predetermined scales such as hereinbefore referred to. This method of separation and recutting is continued until all of the blanks have complete perimeters and complete finished article surfaces thereon, the complete plural blanks produced by each recutting operation being divided to obtain single disks, or,

blanks. In many cases, it is possible, in the first instance. to determine that an incomplete blank will not yield a complete blank oi the next smaller size on the scale and in such cases the incomplete blank 1s recut directly to obtain a blank of tWo or more sizes smaller than the original.

It will thus be seen that after the first blank is produced, it incomplete, the recutting operations, according to the predetermined scale, Will give finally a blank having complete and finished perimeters and complete and finished article surfaces on opposite sides thereof, each blank still retaining for a predetermined thickness the maximum cylindrical diameter of the original irregularly shaped piece.

The inner finished surfaces or any or all of the single blanks obtained from each plural blank may be provided simultaneously with the division of the plural blank,

or in separate operations, as desired.

What I claim as my invention anddcsirc to secure by Letters Patent is l. A method of producing disks, or blanks buttons, or the like, from irregularly shaped pieces of material, Which consists in roughly classifying, the irregularly shaped pieces for size, severing from such irregularly shaped pieces blanks having.

substantially regular andcylindrical characteristics, each blank still retaining the maximum cylindrical diameter for a predetermined thickness of the original irregularly shaped piece, and cutting on each blank during such severing surfaces on its perimv eter and on opposite sides there-of.

2. A method of producing disks, or blanks for buttons, or the like from irregularl shaoed )ieces of material which consists in roughly classifying the irregularly shaped pieces for size, severing from such irregularly shaped pieces blanks having complete and. finished peri'meters and complete and finishedarticle surfaces on 0p- 'posite sides thereof, each blank still retaining for a predetermined thickness the max imum cylindrical diameter of the original irregularly shaped piece.

3. A method of producing disks, or blanks for buttons, or the like, from irregularly shaped pieces of material,which consists in cutting from the irregularly shaped pieces blanks of circular form With finished button perimeter-s and at least one finished button face thereon, separating the blanks incomplete in any portion thereof from those complete in all portions, and .recutting those blanks Which have incomplete portions according to predetermined graduated scales until the blank is complete in all portions and during each recutting providing on'theblank a finished button finished button face.

i. A method of producing disks, or blanks perimeter and "a liar buttons, or the like, from irregularlyshaped pieces or material, which consists in roughly classifying the irregularly shaped pieces for size, severing from such irregularly shaped pieces blanks having substantially regular and cylindrical characteristics,

each blank still retaining for a predetei mined thickness the maximum cylindrical diameter of the irregularly shaped piece, cutting on each blank during such severing surfaces on its perimeter and on opposite sides thereof separating the blanks incom plete in any portion thereof from those complete in all portions and recutting each.

severed: blanlzaccording to a predetermined graduated scale until a blank complete in all portions is obtained, still retaining tor a: predetermined ithickness the maximum cylindrical diameter of the original irregularly shaped piece;

5; A method ofproducing disks, or blanks for buttons, orthe like, from irregularly shaped pieces of material, which consists 1n cutting from theirregularly shaped pieces blanks having substantially regular and "cylindrical characteristics, at the same time,

incomplete. button edges, or

cutting on each blanka finished button edge and art-least one finished button face, reentting according to predetermined graduated scaleslcovering a' series of. steps of decreasing thickness and offproportionodfinished button face curvatures, those blanks which have incomplete finished button faces to provide complete blanks of a smaller size.

6. A method of producing disks, or blanks forbutto'ns, or the like, from irregularly shaped pieces of material, whichconsists in severing from the irregularly shapedpieces plural blanks with perimeters and surfaces portion of smaller size.

iemann STANEORTH. V

on opposite sides thereof, separating the blanks withincompleteportions from those [complete in all portions, and recutting b) i a succession of cutting opcrationsaccording complete portion: of each blank Whenfada smallerdiameter and thickness.

, 7. Ainethod ofproducing disks, on blanks for buttons, or the like from irregularly severing from such material plural blanks hav ng substantially regular and cyhndrlca-l characteristics, providing during suchseverto a predetermined graduated scale the inj jacent one sidethereof to a smaller diameter only and wlienad acent the opposite side to shaped pieces of material, which consists in ing perinieters and convex article forming provide a complete 

